What if my child is ill?
If your child and cannot go to school let the teacher know immediately. If pupils do not arrive at school, staff have no way of knowing where they are or if they are safe.
- Please telephone the school as soon as possible on the first day of absence if your child cannot attend.
- If you cannot ring the school, try to get a message to them – send a note with another child if necessary. If you think your child is going to be absent for some time, please keep in regular contact with the school.
- All families can experience difficult times. If you are having difficulties, please let the school know so they can discuss with you what help is needed.
It is for schools to decide whether or not to authorise an absence.
If your child's illness is recurring and/or serious enough to cause prolonged absence from school, the Flexible Learning Educational Support Service (FLESS) can offer you advice and support.
Home learning online
If your child can't go to school because of chronic illness, the Flexible Learning team can arrange for them to study online at home. The virtual lessons allow pupils to interact with a teacher and write on a shared whiteboard. A whole timetable of lessons is available to study.
Use the login details below for a demonstration (some areas such as live lessons are excluded):
For more information about home learning online contact FLESS.
Home tuition
The Flexible Learning Educational Support Service (FLESS) works to support pupils whose mental or physical illness is preventing them from being in school. To qualify, pupils must have been absent from school for 15 consecutive school days and have evidence from a paediatrician that this absence is due to ill health.
In these situations, we help students keep up with their learning and return to school once they are able. This service cannot act as an alternative to education at school, and schools are still responsible for the care and education of their pupils.
Pupils who cannot go to school because they are ill cannot be removed from the school roll without the permission of their parents.
Mental health problems
If your child suffers from anxiety or other mental health problems, FLESS will ask to see medical evidence of this, usually with the involvement of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAHMS). Visit the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust website for contact details for child and adolescent mental health services.
Contacting the Flexible Learning Educational Support Service (FLESS)
If you think your child needs to be educated during a period of ill health, contact FLESS
